Hey, hey. I'm not sure about becoming a T. If I be honest I have a whole LOAD of self-love work to do before I can take responsiblity for looking after others. I've just got accepted for a Psychology degree which is awesome. I love Psychology too and looking forward to starting!

I would like to think that in the future, I can use what I learn to help people in some way. Child Psychology appeals to me.

Good luck to you

Hi Athenacus,

The only reason I am not going to school to become a therapist is because with two children in college, I can't afford the tuition. I did actually go to my therapist a couple of years ago to talk to him about my becoming my therapist, especially as I was concerned about whether I was healthy enough to help other people and managing my triggers. To my eternal surprise, he was very supportive of the idea and told me that he thought that people who had done significant amount of healing in therapy often made the best healers.

I discussed with him that I wouldn't be able to go back to school right away with our kids heading off to college and he suggested volunteering for a crisis line to get a feel for how I felt about the work. So I started volunteering for a local hotline and love it. Volunteering there, and writing my blog are outlets for the part of me that would like to be a therapist.

Because of my age and my husband's retirement plans, I am not sure if it's ever going to happen. It took me too long to realize that I really was a right brained person, despite trying so hard trying to live in my left brain.

I think it's great you're pursuing a degree.

AG

Thank you Attachment Girl.
The tuition and time involved to become a T is what scares the hell out of me. I am a single mom of 2 elementary school aged kids. I was out of the workforce for 10 years. I have a part time job now and the kids are in school, but I really don't have any money to speak of. We are currently living with my parents. If I can get myself into grad school, my parents are willing to help me out with my kids. The thing is the program that I applied for is a three year full time program at a school 30 minutes away from home. Then, to be licensed in my state it takes two years post masters training. I don't know how realistic it is to go 5 years (possibly starting next year) without an income, benefits and school debt. By the time I'm 43 I could have my career though.
I just keep having faith that if I pursue this area that something will open up for me.
My T just mentioned last session if I was planning on getting involved in a volunteer job related to counseling or looking for some type of job in that area. I was so caught up in getting ready for final exams, my pt job and my kids that I haven't had a chance to do that sort of thing. I do have a couple of ideas....finding the time to volunteer is another thing.

AG-I wish you all the best! Thanks for making me feel so welcome to this community.
ok...I need to go make Xmas brownies for the family.

Hi AG, I don't know what age you are, but a friend of my step mother's did her degree in clinical physchology in her early 50's! She was practising right into her late 70's!

I really think it is something you should look into. I don't know how expensive it would be, as i don't know how the american schooling system works...but maybe partly through correspondence, or study financial aid? I really feel it would be a shame to miss out on something that you would really like to do.

After reading your replies and help to other's here, you seem to have a natural empathy, which i don't believe just comes from having therapy yourself or reading on the subject a great deal. Anyway, hope you think about it again and are able financially to work something out. I think you would be really good.

Merry Xmas. HC

Athenacus - go for it! Even if it takes five years, think of the possibilities of having a career when you're finished. If it's something you want, you'll find the time. I'm a single mom and just finished my masters in education while going through National Board certification at the same time. I'm starting my doctorate next year in interfaith divinity. My goal (and I'll be 45 before starting) is to combine my first career of public relations and advertising with my teaching experience and my seminary degree and ordination with my PhD to start soul discovery weekends and retreats. I'm only saying all this to give an example of being able to go after what you love and want to do. In my case it's changed a few times but seems to be gelling in a synchronicitous way. And as for the finances - I owe as much as a small house in student aid, and even though it might not be financially responsible to some, I don't worry about it. I pay what I can and I know when I die they get dissolved and won't fall onto my child. Good luck!

Thank you, Raven! You are an inspiration!
I wish you all the best with the doctorate!

Athenacus,
I am extremely impressed with all you are doing (you had at me single mother. Parenting is hard enough to do with two people involved). I think continuing as long as you can trusting that things will open up sounds like a good plan. Even if it takes longer than you anticipate, I love what Raven said about it being worth it when you get there. And 43 is still pretty young. A lot of good years left. And you're children will be able to see an example of someone working hard to achieve their dreams, not the worse thing to grow up with by a long shot. And you're welcome, I am very glad to hear that you are feeling welcome here!

HC,
Thank you for the encouragement and kind words. I am 50 but it's not so much the age thing as it's the fact that my husband and I have always planned to travel during our retirement. He is eligible for full retirement in two years (a year before my youngest graduates from college so he will probably continue to work a few more years) so right about the time I would be finishing my degree and starting my supervised practice, we'll be starting to travel. Just doesn't seem like a good thing for a client to do. But between volunteering, being moderator here and my blog, I am finding myself feeling very fulfilled and at the moment actually feel like I am where I should be. I am also holding myself open to the possibility that things may open up in the future so I haven't given up, I'm more waiting to see what happens and where I end up going. Thanks again.

AG